Multipedal tractor



Jan. 80, 1923. 1,443,787.

J. c. FRENCH.

MULTiPEDAL TRACTOR.

HLED DEC.10.1911. 2 SHEETSWSHEU 1.

fy/ C@ fl Jan, 30, 1923. 1,443,787. 1. c. FRENCH.

lVIULTlPEDAL TRACTOR.

FILED DEc.1o. 1917. 2 sHEETssHEET 2.

Patented Jan. 30, 1923. A

iE Si;

ses?

JAMES C. FRENCH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,TO F. C. AUSTIN MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MULTIPEDAL TRACTOR.

Application led December 10. 1917.

citizen ot' the United States of America. and

resident of Chicago, county of Cook. and State of lllinois7 haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in l\lult.ipedal Tractors,of which the following is a specification. l

This invention relates to traction devices of that kind in which theload is imposed on the endless belt or tread through the medium of atilting frame orvmember which bears upon the upper surface of the lowerportion of the belt. and in which anti-friction means are interposedbetween the said belt and said tilting 'frame or member` so thatfriction is reduced.

Generally stated. the object of the invention is to provide a novel andimproved traction device of the foregoing general character.

special object is to provide an improved construction and arrangen'ientwhereby the belt is yieldingly presented to the surface of the ground`through the medium of spring means interposed between the tilting frameor member and the body frame or chassis of the tractor or the truck orother vehicle upon which the traction device is employed. and wherebythe means for operating the belt is supported directly on said tiltingframe or member and gear-connected with powertransmitting mechanismmounted on the horizontal transverse axis about which said frame ormember tilts up and down at its forward end.

Another object is to provide an improved construction and arrangementwhereby the use of certain features of construction hereto-A foreconsidered necessary or desirable is entirely obviated.

It is also an object to provide certain details and features ofconstruction and combinations tending to increase the general eiiiciencyand desirability of a traction device of this particular construction.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, the invention consists inmatters hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanyingdrawings Figure l is a side elevation of the rear endportion of a truck or other vehicle provided with a traction *deviceembodying the principles of the invention.

runder-side of said chassis.

Serial No. 206,362.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail section on line 2 2 in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a vertical section on line 3 3 in Fig. l.

Figure t is a horizontal section on line 4 4 in Figure l.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail section ou line 5 5 in Figure 3. Y

Figure 6 is a detail section on line (3 6 in Fig. 5.

As thus illustrated. the invention comprises a bod)Y frame or chassis Aof any suitable form or character7 having its rear end portion providedwith a transverse stationary axle B supported against rotation in thebrackets (l suitably secured to the Each side of said frame or chassisis preferably provided with parallel members fz which are spaced apartto provide spaces for the two traction devices which take the place ofthe rear wheels ordinarily employed on a truck or other vehicle of thisgeneral character. Each traction device comprises an endless belt ortread C supported on front and rear sprocket wheels l and 2, whichlatter are ot any suitable character and arranged to engage. the middleportion c of the belt. Each traction device has a pair of tilting framesor members D which are spaced apart and pivotally mounted on the axle B,and which are rigidly held in their spaced relation by the rear spindle3 which is keyedY or otherwise suitably secured to the rear ends of saidshoes to provide a horizontal axis of rotation for the sprocket wheel 2.The front ends of said tilting members D, which serve as shoes to imposethe weight of the load on the traction device. are connected by thetransverse member 4 having its opposite ends mounted A sprocket-Wheel 2is provided with hub extensions forming sleeves 7 and 8 upon f which thewheels or sheaves 9 are loosely mounted, and in addition a geai-\vlieell0 is keyed to the end of the sleeve 8 to rotate able character anddriven by the worm ll on the longitudinal shat't l5, the latterextendingforward in any suitable or ordinary manner to the engineusually mounted at the t'ront end ot' the chassis. similar to that ot'an ordnar automobile or truck. Thus the transverse axle B rigidlyconnects together the two sides of the trame or chassis, and serves thehorizontal axis for the shoes D of both traction devices. while thedill'erential gear-incr lil permits one traction device to run lasterthan the other. in a manner that will be readily understood. Thesprocket wheel lV similarly mounted on the stationary transverse memberlo mounted in adjustable supports JT on the 2Luides lo. which latterhave adjustinq screws lil by which to adjust the member l() toward andaway l'rom the axle ll. thereby to regie late the action of the belt.'l`he sprocket wheel l is provided with hub extensions like those ot`the sprocket wheel 2. and these extensions are provided with wheels orsheaves :20. loosely mounted thereon. like the wheels or sheaves l)previously decribed. The two parallel sprocket chains ll are carried onthe wheels or sheaves l) and 2t). these wheelsl or sheaves being aroovedto prevent lateral displacement ot the said sprocket chains. and eachsprocket chain is provided with anti-friction rollers c which travel in2(grooves 2l on the bottoms ot' the shoes l). thereby to reduceJfriction. The rollers c travel aloner between the belt (l and the shoesD. and the sprocket chains l@ are thus propelled by the travelingmovement ot the rollers. and the wheels or sheaves 9 and Q() are in turnrotated by said sprocket chains. so that rolling' anti-friction meansare prof vided between the belt or tread and the tilting `l'rame ormember through which the loa-d is communicated from the chassis. ln thisway. the two sprocket chains E are independent ot' each other. so thatone can travel faster than the other. it the conditionsl requirethustendingV to reduce friction and straining ot the parts. lVith thisconstruction. there is practically no load weight communicated to thetraction device from the chassis through the medium ot' the short axleor transverse axis member l0. the latter merely supporting the rotarymeans by which the belt and the sprocket chains are supported. 'lfheweight of the chassis is communicated through thc springs o to the shoesD. and from the latter to the rollers c. and l'roni the latter to thelower portion ol" the belt or tread C; and. ot course. some weight iscommunicated from the chassis through the axle B to the shoes D, andfrom the latter through the anlid'rictiou rollers to the belt: but.under ordinary circumstances, no weight is communicated through thetransverse axis members Il and lb. excepta ol course, when the tractoris travelinzein deep mnd, so that upward pressure is yexerted againstthe trout and rear ends ot the traction device. or when the lattertravels over an obstruction. The tractor in its entirety does not tiltaboutI cit-her the transverse member Il or the transverse member lo. sothat neither sprocket wheel axis is utilized for this purpose: Jfor. asdistinguished from this. the transverse axis member 3 moves `up and downon the line of a circle struck `trom the transverse axis ottiltingmotion provided by the axle. l; and. with the construction shown.the axis member lo is carried by the chassis and is not connected withthe shoes l). the latter tilting' aboutl the axle P upon which thedriving' or power-transmitting mechanism is mounted. ln this way. thetront ends of the shoesv D can risc. against the pressure ot' the spring(3. when the traction devices travel over obl structions in a nforwarddirection; or. in backing up. the rear ends ot the shoes or tiltingmembers l? can rise, inasmuch as the transverse axis member 3 is somedistance in rear or" the axle and is carried by the rear ends ot the twoparallel shoes or tilting members. i

Flach belt can bc ol' any suitable charac ter. For example. it may beconstructed as shown in Figure G, in which case the belt comprisesparallel outside links l? which are spaced apart laterally by therollers f on the transverse pins G. the latter forming the pivots ol thelink-beltl thus provided. The

links l" abone side of the. belt are connected with the links l*l at theother side by tread portions y. which close the spaces between the.rollers it being understood that the teeth of the sprocket wheels l and2 enter these spaces. so that the rollers f engage between the teeth.(see Figure 5) in a'manner that will be readily understood. The rollerse travel on the` smooth surfaces provided by the links F and thesprocket wheels l and engage the apertured middle portion or rccessedpath tormed on the inner surface ot the belt.y whereby the latter isdriven by the positive rotation ot the sprocket whecl when power iscommunicated to the latter from the engine through the medium ot' thetransmission rearing and the pinions ll on the axle l? and thegear-wheels 10 which are each vrigid with one ot the sprocket wheels Qat the rear end ot the vehicle.

lith the l'oreg'oing construction. no re volvablc shalts are necessaryon the chassis or body trame. or ou the tilting' trame or member ins ieolv cach traction device; and. with the arrann'emlnt thus employed,whereby the two whe or sheaves 9 are indelSO pendent of each other, asare the wheels or sheaves 20, the two sprocket chains ll are practicallyindependent of each other and'either one may travel faster or slowerthan the other. Of course. with the wheels or sheaves 9 and 2U mountedto rotate independently of each other. and independently of the sprocketwheels l and 2, there is less friction between these sprocket chains andsaid wheels or sheaves; for, it will be seen, the belt C necessarilytravels faster than the sprocketv chains E, whereby rigidity otl thewheels or sheaves 9 and 2() with said sprocket wheels l and 2 ispreferably omitted, so that the said wheels or sheaves can run slowerthan the sprocket wheels, and can be turned by their respective sprocketchains at whatever speed the sprocket chains are traveling at any time.Various other features of construction heretofore considered necessaryand desirable are also avoided, and the construction is thereby renderednot only sufficiently tiexible to enable the traction devices toaccommoda-te themselves to uneven surfaces ot' the ground, in thedesired manner, without undue friction or straining of the parts, but atthe same time the construction is rendered strong and rigid, the twoshoes of each traction devicefbeing held in alinement with each othertransversely of the vehicle` as they are connected together at theirrear ends by the transverse axis member 3 which is keyed or otherwisesecured at the rear ends o'f said runners, whereby the latter alwaystiltup and down in unison. Other advantages will be obvious to those skilledin the art, and the invention is not, of course, limited to the exactconstruction shown and described.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the two side members D of thetruck frame are rigidly connected together by the cylindrie end members3 and 4, as the latter are rigidly and non-rotatably fixed or held inthe ends of the side members, whereby a very rigid truck frame isprovided which tilts freely about the transverse axis provided by theaxle B previously described. By thus holding the end members againstrotation. the two side members of the truck frame are so rigidlyconnected together that they form a. Vframe which is not subject todistortion or straining and loosening of the parts thereof when thetractor is in operation, and when the belt travels over rough or unevenground. Also, by rigidly mounting the transverse cylindric member 16 onthe chassis, so that it doesnot rotate, additional rigidity and strengthare given the structure.- Of course. as shown, the two side members ofthe truck framey are4 connected together by the transverse brackets dand in front of said member, means on said axle for driving said rearsprocket wheel, a linkbelt carried on said sprocket wheels to travel onthe ground, spring means for yieldingly holding the front end of saidtilting member down against the belt, and anti-friction means interposedbetween said tilting member and said belt.

:2. A structure as specified in claim l, said anti-friction meansconsistingof rollers.

endless parallel chains upon which said rollers are carried` and wheelsto support said chains, the wheels of one chain being mounted to rotatevindependently of the 'wheels of the other chain so that one chain cantravel faster than the other.

3. A structure. as specified in claim l, said member comprising aplurality of parallel and longitudinally arranged shoes rigidlyconnected together by the axis of the rear sprocket wheel.

4. A structure as specified in claim l, and means for supporting saidaxle against rotation. v

A structure as specified in claim l, said front and rear sprockets beingprovided with non-rotatable axlesl forming the axes of rotation for saidwheels.

(i. In a tractor, theeombination of fronty and rear sprocket wheels, atraction belt carried on said wheels, a body frame, a shoe pivoted onsaid body frame to bear upon said belt, means to support one sprocketwheel on one end of saidv tilting shoe, and means to support the othersprocket wheel on the body frame, the two sprocket wheels and said shoehaving three separate and transverse horizontal axes of movement, andmeans on the axis of the shoe to transmit driving power to one of saidsprocket wheels.

7. In a tractor, the eon'ibination of a body frame or chassis, front andrear sprocket wheels, a traction belt supported on said sprocket wheels,a non-rotatable axle for the front sprocket wheel, a non-rotatable axlefor the rear sprocket wheel, a movable shoe supporting one of saidaxles, means to support the other axle on the bony frame, means to drivethe rear sprocketsie wheel and mechanism to yieldingly impose the loadweight ot said chassis upon the lower portion ot said belt, so that saidaxles do not rotate and do not sustain any load Weight. '8. A structureas specified in claim 7, said mechanism comprising said movable shoe,spring means between said shoe and the chassis, so that the shoe isyieldingly held down, anti-friction rollers interposed between said shoeand said belt, rotary members loosely mounted on said axles, and endlesschains supported on said rotary members` said rollers being- Carried onsaid chains, so thatiboth the belt and said chains are supported by andtravel around axles which do not rotate.

9. ln a tractor, the combination of a body trame, an axle, the axlebeing nearer one end of said trame than the other, supported in bearingson said body trame, a tilting` member on said axle, an endless tractionbelt, anti-friction means in front and rear of said axle to support saidmember on the lower portion ot said belt, means 'to support the forwardportion of the belt on the body trame. means to support the rear portionot said belt on said member, means to yieldingly hold the forward end otsaid member against upward movement, and means on said axle tocommunicate drivingpower to the rear portion of said belt.

10. ln a tractor, the combination orn a Chassis, an axle mounted in saidchassis and held against rotation, atruelr trame mounted to tilt on saidaxle, a spindle non-rotatably mounted in the rear end of said truckframe, an endless traction belt. means adapted to rotate on said spindleto support said belt, a second spindle non-rotatably mounted in thefront end of said truck trame, and means mounted on said axle and saidrstnientioned spindle to drive said belt.

l1. In a tractor, the combination of a chassis, a truck trame, eylindriemembers inserted and held against rotation on the front and rear ends otsaid frame, an endless traetion belt, means adapted to rotate on one ofsaid members to support said belt, means to support the truck trame onthe lower portion ot the belt, means on the chassis and disposed throughthe truelr trame to impose the load weight on said truck frame, andgearing adapted to rotate on said belt-supporting eylindrio member toreceive and transmit the power 'for driving said belt.

1&2. A structure as specified in claim, 1l, said means tor imposing theload weight on the truck trame Comprisinga transverse axle, inCombination with means on said axle to operate said gearing.

13"). ln a tractor, the combination ot a. chassis. parallel sidemembers. transverse eylindrie end members rigidly connecting the sidemembers together to form a rigid truck frame, the two end members beingheld against rotation, an endless traction belt, means adapted to rotateon one of said end members to support said belt, means on said chassisand disposed through the trahir iframe for imposing the load weight onsaid truc-,lr trame., that the truel-z tra-me is tree to :'.t about saidmeans as a transverse axis, and means adapted rotate on said beltsupportingY eylindrie member to drive the traction belt.

1l. lli structure as specified in Claim 13, in combination with meanssupported by one ot said no11-rotatable end members to support thetruelr 'trame on the lower portion ot said traction belt.

rl structure as specified in claim 13, said means tor imposing; the loadweight on 'the truelr trame comprising a transverse axle disposedbetween said. non-rotatable end members and forming a. transverse ot'tilting' movement for the truck trame, together with springs toyieldingly hold the front end of the true-lr trame against upwardmovement.

16. il structure as specified in Claim 13, in combination with a Chassisor body trarne having' rotatable means thereon to support said tractionbelt, and springs on said Chassis to yieldingly hold the liront end olisaid truck trame against upward movement.

17. it structure as specified in claim 13, the side members ot thetruelr trame being,r rigidly connected together by brackets, and shoeson said brackets to impose the load weight on the lower portion of saidbelt.

Signed by me at Cliieago, Cook County, lllinois, this 24th day otNovember, 1917.

